"Same as ever, huh."
Natsume watched Sasuke awaken his Sharingan from start to finish.
Even without Itachi's Tsukuyomi, the outcome hadn't changed.
He was, after all, Indra's chakra reincarnate.
The talent was there.
It just felt a teeny tiny bit off that he opened with a single tomoe.
After the ANBU knocked Sasuke out, they took him to the ninja hospital.
The abnormalities he'd just shown made her a little worried.
And Hiruzen Sarutobi had ordered that his safety must be guaranteed.
Natsume withdrew his gaze and didn't follow.
He turned and went home.
Kurama Yakumo was asleep on the sofa.
She'd waited too long.
Tsunade and Shizune were nowhere to be seen.
Natsume rubbed his chin.
As a Konoha leader, Tsunade was probably at the Hokage building right now.
He had neither the interest nor the standing to join the discussion.
But the result was set in stone.
The Uchiha clan had been wiped out.
There wasn't much room for Hiruzen to maneuver.
List Itachi as a rogue ninja, punish the insubordinate Shimura Danzo.
The rest was arranging funerals.
But having been wronged, Shimura Danzo would only become more determined to seize the Hokage's seat.
It wouldn't be long before a storm of public opinion swept Konoha.
…
Land of Water.
Kirigakure.
Mei Terumi was practicing vocalization.
Because Natsume said he wanted to hear her sing, but she was a novice, so she'd invited a famous singer from the Land of Water.
The diva taught her a vocal practice method:
Sing while walking.
Keep the body relaxed, but not truly slack—relaxed on the outside, engaged on the inside.
Keep phrasing and breath steady, maintain precise resonance placement.
Don't force the throat—engage the whole body.
If after two to three hours the voice is still bright, that counts as success.
To repay a favor, Mei Terumi had already been practicing hard for a while.
It was working pretty well.
From tone-deaf at the start, she was now fairly on pitch.
Worried about being noticed, she practiced at night in the Mizukage's office.
Suddenly, applause sounded.
Mei Terumi's heart stopped.
Crap—if people found out that the outwardly dignified Mizukage was doing this in private—
Her prestige would plummet.
She even considered silencing the witness, until she saw it was Natsume.
"You… did that on purpose, didn't you?"
Mei Terumi exhaled and asked.
"On purpose? What on purpose?"
Lazing comfortably on the sofa, Natsume watched her frightened look and smiled. "Are you really that afraid of being seen?"
"I'm the Mizukage."
Mei Terumi pouted. So he did do it on purpose.
"So what? A Mizukage can lead a normal life too."
Natsume said meaningfully, "Like singing, dancing, working out, and falling in love."
"You're talking nonsense. How could a Mizukage do those things?"
Mei Terumi's heart thumped hard. Flustered, she brushed a few loose strands behind her ear.
The unconscious gesture lent her a uniquely girlish air.
"But you were just singing."
Natsume looked at her.
"That's because of our deal."
Mei Terumi blurted, "Not because I wanted to."
"What do you want to do?"
Natsume followed up.
Mei Terumi froze.
She'd never thought about it.
All her life, she'd seemingly been preparing to be Mizukage.
Beyond that, she knew nothing.
Even singing—she'd only gotten into it because of Natsume.
Mei Terumi pressed her lips together, then skipped the topic. "Why are you here this late?"
"To hear you sing."
Natsume answered without hesitation.
"Not today."
Mei Terumi's pupils widened slightly. "I'm not ready yet."
She would never allow errors or anything less than perfection.
Especially in front of Natsume.
Ahem.
Mainly, seven hundred million in loans were at stake. She couldn't be careless.
"Your merchant guild people have already arrived."
She stiffly changed the subject again. "Opening the sea route is underway—estimated completion in three months."
"Much appreciated."
Natsume didn't call out her poor acting and smiled. "Once it opens, we'll still need Kirigakure to provide long-term protection."
"No problem."
Mei Terumi had planned to make money with him anyway. She continued, "When are you going to the Land of Whirlpools?"
"Next time."
Natsume stood, stretched. "Since I can't hear a song, I'll leave you to practice."
Mei Terumi hesitated, not knowing what to say.
Natsume, at the window, suddenly stopped and beckoned her over.
"What is it?"
Puzzled, she walked over.
"Don't move."
Natsume's face turned serious.
Mei Terumi instinctively nodded.
Then she saw Natsume draw closer, the distance shrinking, as if going negative.
Her heart suddenly hammered, out of control. Her body trembled; she wanted to run.
That overly handsome face grew in her vision until it stopped about a centimeter away.
"Ah!"
Natsume's voice carried regret.
His warm breath brushed her white neck, tickling her.
"You really are taller than me!"
Deflated, Natsume muttered to himself.
"…"
Mei Terumi's lashes trembled.
That's it?
I thought you were about to—
For some reason, a faint disappointment flickered through her.
But his reminder made her realize the person before her was just a boy, not a mature man.
Judging by the looks of it, only a teenager.
Ridiculously young.
Standing together, they'd look like siblings, not lovers.
"Up close, you're even prettier."
Natsume took the chance to study the girl before him.
Because of the height difference, his view was all smooth skin.
He could also catch a faint body scent.
Mei Terumi went rigid on the spot.
In the silent Mizukage's office, her slightly rapid breathing was audible.
Face faintly flushed, she stepped back and averted her gaze. "Thanks for the compliment."
"You're welcome."
Natsume waved it off, feeling a bit lousy.
Men are sensitive about length.
Like height.
Mei Terumi was quite a bit taller.
But that was normal.
Natsume was still a teenager—he'd grow.
He remembered Mei Terumi's official height was 174 cm—pretty tall, taller than many guys.
By comparison, Tsunade was shorter, only 163 cm.
But height has its own merits.
Different experiences.
"Alright, I'm off."
Natsume sat back on the windowsill. "Since you're learning to sing, you might as well learn to dance too."
Before she could answer, he vanished.
"???"
Mei Terumi stood there, speechless at his pushiness.
So… should she learn to dance?